Date: Tue, 2 Jul 1996 13:13:52 -0600 (MDT) From: "Katherine R. Freymuth" Subject: Slide Before You Leap - Part 9 Message-ID: Slide Before You Leap A Quantum Leap/ Sliders Crossover by Kat Freymuth Part 9 "Ready?" Al questioned as he led the four Sliders and Tina to a small airplane waiting at San Francisco's main airport. He looked at the Sliders, waiting for a response. "We're ready," Quinn answered for all four of them. "Then, let's do the honors," Al said as Tina took out four blind-folds and gave them to each of the Sliders. "Where's the pilot?" Rembrandt asked as he put his blind-fold on. "I'm the pilot," Al told them. "Don't worry. I've been doing it for forty years." He looked over all of them, making sure they couldn't see anything. Then he and Tina helped them into the small plane and to take their places. "One more thing before we take off," Al told them firmly. "From this moment on, you'll only do what I tell you. Dr. Beckett doesn't have the authority. I do. So, if you don't like it, here's your chance to back out." They all agreed to do as the Admiral said and Al brought the plane into the air. Al was truly grateful when he brought the plane to a landing in a small air field in the middle of the New Mexican desert. He had a bad feeling about thye whole situation and he knew that, whenever he had a bad feeling, his instincts were usually right. Something was going to happen. At least he knew now that it wasn't anything to do with the trip there. He and Tina led the blind-folded Sliders to a waiting military van. "How long must we endure this humiliation?" Arturo complained. "As long as necessary, Max," Al told him with a frown, knowing the nickname bothered him. "Just take it easy, Professor," Quinn encouraged. "I'm sure it won't be much longer." Arturo's ruffled feathers temporarily smoothed, Quinn allowed Tina to help him into the van. He heard the other three being helped in before the van's door closed and the van started. It was another hour before the six arrived at the Project Quantum Leap Complex. After taking the Sliders through the security check and after going through it themselves, Al and Tina led the Sliders to the nearest staff lounge before removing their blindfolds. The Sliders looked at their surroundings. The found themselves in a comfortable room with two couches and three lounge chairs. A plain wooden coffee table sat in the center of the room. Besides the furniture, there were no decorations of any kind. They also noticed Al and Tina standing near the door and a Marine guard walking away from them, having been the one that removed the blind-folds. "Please, wait here," the Admiral told them. "I'll let Dr. Beckett know you're here." The Marine guard followed Al and Tina out of the lounge, leaving the Sliders alone. "Corporal," Al ordered the Marine guard once they were out of the lounge. "Keep an eye on this door. I want those four under surveillance at all times." "Yes, sir," the guard saulted as Al and Tine left him. "What do we do now?" Tina asked as she and Al stepped onto the elevator to go down the ten levels of the Complex. "Just what I said," Al told her. "Tell Sam they're here. And lay some ground rules." -------------------------------------------- Part 10 on the way. Keep Sliding! Keep the Leap! Kat Freymuth